U.S. law enforcement agencies, including the DEA and FBI, have seized over $10 million in cryptocurrency linked to the Sinaloa cartel during a major drug enforcement operation.
Operation Against Cartels
The cryptocurrency seizure is part of a nationwide crackdown that has resulted in the confiscation of 44 million fentanyl pills, 4,500 pounds of fentanyl powder, nearly 65,000 pounds of methamphetamine, and over 201,500 pounds of cocaine since January 2025. The Sinaloa cartel is one of six Mexican drug trafficking organizations labeled as global 'terrorist' groups by the U.S. government.
Law Enforcement Successes
Recent nationwide raids have led to significant successes: in Lexington County, South Carolina, agents seized 156 pounds of fentanyl and 44 pounds of methamphetamine, while dismantling a methamphetamine conversion lab in Kern County, California, leading to the confiscation of over 240 pounds of crystal meth.
Rise of Crypto Laundering
According to the analytics firm Elliptic, illicit cryptocurrency flowing through crosschain swaps has surged to an estimated $21.8 billion in 2025, up from $7 billion in 2023. These operations have become standard among criminals who leverage multiple blockchains to obscure the origin of funds.
Major law enforcement operations are ongoing, aimed at undermining the financial foundations of drug cartels and combating money laundering through cryptocurrency.
